Microsoft Authenticator is asking me to authenticate using Microsoft Authenticator to use Microsoft Authenticator

Hi, and thank you for your reply! Very appreciated!

There are in fact only two choices when choosing alternative ways to log in.

One is to continue to use the "preferred method" which is Microsoft Authenticator, and the other is "Switch to Microsoft Authenticator"... go figure...

Well, the solution for me was for the domain administrator to disable 2FA on my account, and re-enable it, to reset it. Then I could register the app correctly again on my new phone, and all is well and wonderful in Microsoft-land again :)

I have just enabled backup to cloud now, so hopefully I will not hit the same wall again in the future :)

Tormod

I had a different couple of options - when prompted to approve the sign-in in Microsoft Authenticator, there was a link below saying "I can't use Microsoft Authenticator right now" (or similar). If I followed that link the two options were Microsoft Authenticator, and enter a code, which you'll receive in.... you guessed it, Microsoft Authenticator.

Thanks for the answer Rob, I may try getting our admin to temporarily remove 2FA if I need to. I seem to have gotten around it for now by just closing the window on my new laptop and still seem to be signed into Microsoft somehow.

Yes Adrian, the answers for those using Work or School accounts (Azure Domain) are typically exactly what you both just mentioned, simply remove have your Admin remove the 2FA and then set it all back up again from scratch.

You and Tormod should both recognize that my last post was explaining how to do the same for a personal Microsoft account, often associated with Microsoft 365 or some other product.

Though the solution is similar, the precise process is different due to the differing back-end directories involved, since the management of Azure is more involved than that for personal accounts.

Rob

This application and technology is ridiculous! Authenticate the authenticator - what Microsoft?!?!?!

Joshua,

If your account is a work or school account, then see my post immediately above yours that explains that you should contact your organization's IT admin in order to have them remove the 2-factor authentication from your account and then set it all back up again from scratch.

If you're the admin for the work or school account, then contact whatever official Microsoft Support channel you have in order to get aid if you aren't aware how to do this.

If you have a personal Microsoft account, then my earlier post on a previous page in this thread covers that process, though it's basically the same with the difference being that you remove the "Send sign-in notification" method from the "Advanced security options", "Ways to prove who you are" and then use the instructions for setting up the Microsoft authenticator for a personal account instead.

Yes it's a bit confusing, but obviously something went wrong with the initial attempt for those reading this thread, so fully uninstalling the authenticator app and resetting 2FA to start the process over again is the simplest way to fix the problem. The larger issue that exists for some is an inability to login to your account to do this at all, but that shouldn't be a problem if there's a Work or school account administrator to do this for you.

Only those with a personal account might require Microsoft's help to do this if they can't gain control using alternate set of password, email and/or text methods to verify their account.

Rob